Bicycle Mechanics - 3-IN-ONE Oil Bicycle Uses

I haven’t heard great reviews about this oil on this forum. But I use just a little bit on my brake and derailleur pivot points and sometimes a drop or two towards the wheel bearing (from the outside without breaking the hubs open to re-grease). I have had great luck with it but I keep my bike very clean. Is it true that this stuff can “gum up”? Does anyone else use this or any other type of non bike specific oil? If so, how do you use it and what have been your results?

There are loads of posts on oils, you should do a search

I haven’t heard great reviews about this oil on this forum. But I use just a little bit on my brake and derailleur pivot points and sometimes a drop or two towards the wheel bearing (from the outside without breaking the hubs open to re-grease). I have had great luck with it but I keep my bike very clean. Is it true that this stuff can “gum up”? Does anyone else use this or any other type of non bike specific oil? If so, how do you use it and what have been your results?
3-in-1 gums up like hell. Best to steer clear. There are many, many products that can be used, and their pros and cons are the subject of many, many threads on this board; it's almost a religious issue for some... But 2 main points:
1. Use one of the chain lubes (tri-flow, finish line, ...) to lube pivot points;
2. Don't use oil/liquid lube for bearings, use grease only.

3-in-1 gums up like hell. Best to steer clear. There are many, many products that can be used, and their pros and cons are the subject of many, many threads on this board; it's almost a religious issue for some...
My uderstanding is that 3 in 1 has been reformulated and is no longer the gummy stuff of yesteryear.

Lightweight oils work well for things like derailler pivots, shift levers, and cable lubrication. I would avoid using them on a greased bearing (like hubs) as they may thin out the grease and leave the bearing with less lubrication. If you think your hubs need lubrication, it's best to take them apart and repack them with grease.

3 in 1 Oil Description:

Three fine oils, animal, mineral and vegetable, in one perfect blend. Lubricates, cleans, prevents rust and tarnish. Recommended for sewing machines, small motors, hinges, locks, tools, typewriters, fishing reels, etc.

I've heard many poor reports about 3 in 1 Oil for years with many applications other than bicycles. It seems an odd blend of oils.

I will use petroleum based products. I use Pennzoil Grease for bearings (red with rust protectant) Pennzoil Chain Saw lubricant for the chain and some other places when needed (It's also red in color) I found them at the local automotive store or Walmart.
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=25247&stc=1
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=25250&stc=1


I also found some grease with Slick 50 additive; it's a bit thinner and slicker than common wheel bearing grease. It seems to work well on the hub bearings.
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=25248&stc=1

30 years ago I used 3-in-one oil in gun barrel and it rusted under the oil within 60 days.

Take a look at this.

http://www.bikemagic.com/news/article/mps/UAN/3385/V/4/SP/332705698599342832346

Take a look at this.

http://www.bikemagic.com/news/article/mps/UAN/3385/V/4/SP/332705698599342832346Whatever...And you still should not be using on places like wheel bearing,where grease is the drill.

Whatever...And you still should not be using on places like wheel bearing,where grease is the drill.

What does "grease is the drill" mean?

What does "grease is the drill" mean?
Means bearings do not like oil, it washes away too easily, and does not offer sufficient lubrication. Keep your bearings packed with grease.

Isn’t grease just oil suspended in some type of thickening agent? Also, I don’t remove the grease I simply add a drop or two every so often to keep them spinning smoothly. It probably just gets mixed in with the grease if it gets in there at all. I guess it could loosen the grease up a bit but I use such a minimal amount, I doubt it. I will find out when I re-pack them. Does anyone know what a good time frame is for re-packing cup and cone bearings? Does 2000-3000 miles sound reasonable?

Isn’t grease just oil suspended in some type of thickening agent? Also, I don’t remove the grease I simply add a drop or two every so often to keep them spinning smoothly. It probably just gets mixed in with the grease if it gets in there at all. I guess it could loosen the grease up a bit but I use such a minimal amount, I doubt it. I will find out when I re-pack them. Does anyone know what a good time frame is for re-packing cup and cone bearings? Does 2000-3000 miles sound reasonable? << Beats head against wall.. >>

Isn’t grease just oil suspended in some type of thickening agent?

Yeah, use 3in1 oil & avoid grease on the bearings. Grease just makes for messy job during the next overhaul, and your mechanic will thank you for the added income. :rolleyes:

I haven’t heard great reviews about this oil on this forum. But I use just a little bit on my brake and derailleur pivot points and sometimes a drop or two towards the wheel bearing (from the outside without breaking the hubs open to re-grease). I have had great luck with it but I keep my bike very clean. Is it true that this stuff can “gum up”? Does anyone else use this or any other type of non bike specific oil? If so, how do you use it and what have been your results?

I'm a believer in using products that were formulated for use on bicycles on my bicycle. I have no doubt that it's possible to get similar products for lots less. $5.00 for a tiny bottle of Tri-Flow, for instance, is what - $100.00 per gallon? On the other hand, that tiny bottle of Tri-Flow will last me for a year or two. That's less than a nickel per week so it's far from a budget buster. By using a product that was designed for bicycles I get to worry less about parts gumming up or dissolving plastic components.

<< Beats head against wall.. >>

You think that's bad? I am beginning to understand your point of view at times. . . ;)

Now you guys have me worried. I hope I didn’t screw up my hubs with those couple of drops of oil. I will definitely not put any more oil down there. Do you think I aught to repack the hubs? I can (if I listen closely) hear the little ball bearings hitting each other when I spin the wheel. Is this normal or should they be so suspended in thick grease that you can not hear them?

Put your mind at ease & repack them. Clean out all traces of oil, use grease & grade 25 bearings.

Check out parktools.com for howto if you need it.

Isn’t grease just oil suspended in some type of thickening agent? Also, I don’t remove the grease I simply add a drop or two every so often to keep them spinning smoothly. It probably just gets mixed in with the grease if it gets in there at all. I guess it could loosen the grease up a bit but I use such a minimal amount, I doubt it. I will find out when I re-pack them. Does anyone know what a good time frame is for re-packing cup and cone bearings? Does 2000-3000 miles sound reasonable?


Well, this 48 year old automotive mechanic (retired from the biz now) would tell you NOT to do that sort of thing. Ever. If one of my ex employees ever did such I'd give em one warning before a prompt and justified firing. Yes, it thins the grease, dissolves it, degrades the compounds, and can cause premature failure of the components the grease is meant to protect/lube. THink of this, if you dissolve or dilute the grease it won''t stay in place and begin to leak out of the area it was applied to.

If it was me, running your 'shop', I'd force the rookie (you) to dissemble said abused hubs
and inspect and clean and repack them properly with suitable grease. That 2000 to 3000 mile
schedule sounds okay to me, mayhaps even a bit too aggressive it depends on local biking conditions,etc. LOL Dirt, lots o rain, cruising beachfronts, and/or if the ownner does things like oiling the hubs ..etc etc, I'd recommend a more aggresive inspection schedule.

For bearings, I use either Phil Wood grease or white grease from a bike shop. I use White Lightning / Raceday on the chain, because I live in a fairly dry climate. I have used 3-in-1 oil on derailleurs and cables with no apparent adverse effects. Whenever I replace a brake or gear cable, I coat it with white grease before threading it through the housing.

At least at one time, some track racers used oil in their hubs, presumably to reduce rolling resistance compared to grease, but this was a continuous maintenance problem. (Remember the flap-covered oil holes on Campag. and other hubs?)

When I had a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub, I kept it filled with 3-in-1, but I suppose a lightweight motor oil would be just as good, and significantly cheaper. Any suggestions on this topic?

When I had a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub, I kept it filled with 3-in-1, but I suppose a lightweight motor oil would be just as good, and significantly cheaper. Any suggestions on this topic?
We typically use Phil's Tenacious for SA 3 speeds

We typically use Phil's Tenacious for SA 3 speeds

SA makes an oil for use in their hubs it is a very light oil and is similar in viscosity and color to turbine oil often used in pnumatic tools. It's what I have used for 30 years. PW Tenecious is IMO a bit thick for this use and in colder climates can thicken more and can cause shifting problems.

SA makes an oil for use in their hubs it is a very light oil and is similar in viscosity and color to turbine oil often used in pnumatic tools. It's what I have used for 30 years. PW Tenecious is IMO a bit thick for this use and in colder climates can thicken more and can cause shifting problems.
This is FL. Cold isn't an issue. Also the bulk of the SA hubs that we get in haven't seen lube in 20+ years